Accessory Mounting Mechanism for Small Arms

ABSTRACT

A bipod attachment mechanism for small arms that is releasably attached to an elongated rail adaptor is disclosed. The attachment mechanism removably mounts an accessory to a small arms weapon. The bipod attachment mechanism includes a rail attachment mechanism and a grip element having an upper end and a lower end, and including a hollow interior cavity. A pin-receiving section includes an aperture for receiving an accessory mounting pin, and a spring-biased catch mechanism for securing the accessory mounting pin.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to firearm accessories. The invention relates more specifically to an attachment mechanism to attach a bipod to a weapon, a small arm that is typically a military weapon.

2. Description of Related Art

Military small arms must serve multiple purposes in the field. A soldier in the field desires that his rifle be effective, lightweight and easily maneuverable. This is particularly true when the soldier is operating in an urban combat environment, where maneuverability in close quarters can be a matter of life and death. However, since the military small arm is also used in other environments, it must versatile enough to fulfill multiple combat roles. One such role requires stability not generally found in the short-barreled rifle that is the standard issue military weapon. To maximize the stability of his weapon, the soldier looks for a stable rest in order to increase the accuracy of his weapon.

The most reliable stable rest comes in the form of a bipod mounted to the military small arm. A distinct disadvantage to a permanent mounting of the bipod, however, arises due to the increased weight and reduced maneuverability of the weapon with the bipod mounted. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a bipod mounting system that is readily adapted to current military small arms. More particularly, it would be advantageous to provide a bipod that is readily removable, and that is easily stowed for carry when it is removed from the small arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the accessory mounting mechanism for small arms disclosed herein may include a grip element including a pin-receiving section and an attaching element. The attaching element is adapted to secure the grip element to the small arm. A mounting pin secured to the small arms accessory is received in the pin-receiving section of the grip element. The mounting pin releasably locks the accessory onto the grip element.

The pin-receiving section may include an aperture to receive the mounting pin and a pin-engaging element. The mounting pin may include a tapered tip forming a head. The base of the head has a first diameter. A neck of the mounting pin has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. This allows the pin-engaging element to be received in the neck. When the pin-engaging element is received in the neck of the mounting pin, the mechanism is in a locked position that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving section.

The pin-engaging element may be spring-biased toward the locked position. A pushbutton may be provided that when depressed overcomes the spring-bias of the pin-engaging element to disengage the pin-engaging element from the mounting pin. The mounting pin may then be removed from the pin receiving section, thereby releasing the accessory from the small arm.

The accessory to be attached to the weapon may be a bipod comprising a head section, a pivot section, and two extendable legs. The legs are mounted to allow pivotal movement of the pivot section relative to the head section. This provides the mechanism to move the accessory back and forth between a use position and a carry position. The mounting pin may be fixed to the head section.

The grip element may include a handgrip with an interior cavity. The interior cavity may include a lower end with a threaded opening. A threaded cap may be used to secure the threaded opening to enclose the cavity. An elongate sling member may be stored within the cavity in the grip element. A first end of the sling member may be secured within the cavity of the hollow grip portion, and a second end of the sling member may be secured to the threaded cap. The threaded cap may be mountable on a butt stock portion of the small arm, the sling member thereby extending from the hollow grip portion to the butt stock portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bipod attachment mechanism for small arms according to various embodiments of the invention, with a bipod in a deployed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIG. 1, with the bipod in a maneuvering position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the bipod detached.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a connecting pin of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial perspective view of an attaching element of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bipod attachment mechanism of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bipod attachment mechanism taken through line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism of the bipod attachment mechanism taken through line VII-VII of FIG. 6, with the latch mechanism in the engaged position.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism of the bipod attachment mechanism taken through line VII-VII of FIG. 6, with the latch mechanism in the disengaged position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bipod of FIGS. 1-3 in a storage position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sling that may be stored in grip element.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a small arm with a sling deployed between the grip element to the butt stock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of a bipod attachment mechanism 100 for small arms according to the invention include a grip element 110 that may be adapted to mount to the forward section 120 of a weapon 125, typically a military small arm. The attachment mechanism 100 is shown generally in FIGS. 1-3, with portions detailed in FIGS. 4-4A. The grip element 110 may include an attaching element 130, a pin-receiving section 140, and a handgrip 150. The grip element 110 may be configured to be attachable to an accessory attachment rail 160 on the weapon. The pin-receiving section 140 is configured to receive a mounting pin 170 for attachment of additional weapon accessories, such as a bipod 175, to the bipod attachment mechanism 100. The handgrip 150 serves as a forward handgrip position for operation and maneuvering of the small arm.

A common accessory attachment rail 160 found on military small arms is the “picatinny” rail, also know as a “NATO” rail, depicted in FIGS. 1-3, for which a plethora of accessories have been created, including weapon optics, lights, and grips. The accessory attachment rail 160 is an elongate structure extending from a lower surface of the weapon. The accessory attachment rail 160 may have a flat face 180 with periodic transverse grooves (not shown) defining multiple mounting positions. The accessory attachment rail 160 may further include a continuous lateral recess 190 (see FIG. 5) on each opposing side. The attaching element 130 may include protruding upper elements that engage the lateral recesses 190 of the accessory attachment rail to prevent the attachment mechanism 100 from being unintentionally detached from the accessory attachment rail 160.

The grip element 110 may be configured to project perpendicularly from the accessory attachment rail 160, although a non-perpendicular orientation may also be utilized. The handgrip 150 may be generally rigid and contoured for comfort, and may include a plurality of circumferential ridges 230 to aid in gripping.

The handgrip 150 may further include an internal cavity 240 and an end grip cap 250 sealing the cavity 240. An elongate cord or web 260 (see FIG. 10) may be retained within the cavity 240, with a first end 270 of the cord 260 attached within the cavity 240 and a second end 280 of the cord 260 attached to the end grip cap 250. The end grip cap 250 may be received in a threaded manner on the handgrip 150 to secure the cavity 240. When deployed, the elongate cord or web 260 may serve as a sling. The end cap 250 may be configured to attach to a butt stock 265 of the small arm as illustrated in FIG. 11, the cord 260 then forming a sling between the butt stock 265 and the handgrip 150.

Referring chiefly to FIGS. 5-8, the pin-receiving section 140 may be formed in an upper end of the grip element 110. The grip element 110 includes a longitudinally oriented passage 280 having a forward-facing aperture 290 and a transverse aperture 300. A spring-loaded catch mechanism 310 may be mounted in the transverse aperture 300. The catch mechanism 310 may include a pin-engaging element 320, a pushbutton 330, and a pair of compression springs 340. The pin-engaging element 320 includes a central aperture 350 to receive a pin 170. The pin 170 may include a lead-in taper 370, an enlarged head 380, and a neck 390 having a diameter smaller than the head 380 (see FIG. 4).

The bipod 175 has a head section 400, a pivot section 410, and two legs 420, 430. The pin 170 may be fixedly mounted to the head section 400. The pivot section 410 may provide pivot axes for rotation of the head 410 and the legs 420, 430. The legs 420, 430 are pivotally mounted to the pivot section 410 so as to be movable between a spread position (FIGS. 1 and 3) and a retracted position (FIGS. 2 and 9). The legs 420, 430 are extendable and include feet 425, 435 adaptable to different support surfaces, as is well known in the art.

In the spread position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the legs 420, 430 are rotated with the pivot section 410 into a plane perpendicular to the pin 170 and the accessory attachment rail 160. A clearance gap between upper ends of the legs 420, 430 and the head section 400 allows the legs to pivot outward to the spread position. A spring 440 may be positioned between the legs 420, 430 for biasing the legs 420, 430 into the spread position.

FIG. 2 shows the pivot section 410 as having been rotated away from the grip element 110 to a carry position parallel to the accessory attachment rail 160 and the pin 170. In the carry position of FIG. 2, the legs 420, 430 are in the retracted position. The clearance gap between the upper ends of the legs 420, 430 and the head section 400 is reduced in this position, so that the legs are restricted from rotating outwardly to the spread position. In order to rotate the pivot section 410 from the spread position of FIG. 1 to the retracted, carry position of FIG. 2, the legs 420, 430 must be squeezed inwardly against the bias of the spring 440. With the legs 420, 430 pressed inwardly, the upper ends of the legs 420, 430 clear the head section 400, permitting the rotation of the pivot section 410 with the legs 420, 430 to the carry position. Once in the carry position, the legs 420, 430 can be released. The bias of the spring 440 presses the upper ends of the legs 420, 430 against the head section 400, effectively locking the pivot section 410 and the legs 420, 430 in position until the legs are again pressed to together.

Referring to FIG. 9, the head section 400 can be seen to be symmetrical about a transverse axis, so that the pivot section 410 can be rotated in a direction opposite to that of FIG. 2. In the position of FIG. 9, the pivot section 410 and legs 420, 430 are rotated alongside and parallel to the pin 170. In this storage position, the bipod 175 is in its most compact configuration, with the legs 420, 430 in the retracted position and the head section 400 and pin 170 rotated into close proximity to the legs 420, 430.

Operation

To install the bipod 175 on the weapon 125 in various embodiments of the invention, the pin 170 is inserted into the aperture 290 in the forward face of the pin-receiving section 140 of the grip element 110. The tapered end 370 of the pin 170 bears against the pin-engaging element 320 and pushes it aside, overcoming the bias of the springs 340. As the enlarged head 380 clears the pin-engaging element 320, the pin-engaging element 320 is driven into the reduced diameter neck 390 of the pin 170, biased by the springs 340 (FIG. 7). With the pin-engaging element 320 aligned with the neck 390, the pin 170 cannot be removed due to the obstruction of the enlarged head 380.

In order to remove the bipod 175 from the weapon 125, the pin 170 is removed from the pin-receiving section 140 of the grip element 110. The pin 170 is released by disengaging the pin-engaging element 320 from the neck 390 of the pin 170. The pushbutton 330 is depressed to overcome the bias of the springs 340. When the pushbutton 330 is sufficiently depressed, the pin-engaging element 320 is pushed clear of the enlarged head 380 of the pin 170 so that the pin 170 can be removed (see FIG. 8).

When the bipod 175 is installed on the weapon 125 with the pin 170 engaged in the pin-receiving section 140 of the grip element 110, the bipod 175 may be placed in either the carry (FIG. 2) or deployed (FIG. 1) positions as desired. If the user desires to remove the bipod 175 from the weapon 125, the user may simply depress the pushbutton 330 to release the pin-engaging element 320 from the pin 170. Once the bipod 175 is removed from the weapon 125, the pivot section 410 and the legs 420, 430 can be rotated relative to the head section 400 to the storage position shown in FIG. 9, and stored in a convenient manner, such as in a compact carrying case, or an empty magazine pouch.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a series of preferred embodiments, these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth herein. It will be understood that the methods of the invention are not necessarily limited to the discrete steps or the order of the steps described. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 

1. An accessory mounting mechanism for small arms comprising: a grip element including a pin-receiving section and an attaching element, the attaching element securing the grip element to a small arm; and a mounting pin secured to a small arms accessory, the mounting pin being received in the pin-receiving section of the grip element, the mounting pin releasably locking the accessory onto the grip element.
 2. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the pin-receiving section includes an aperture to receive the mounting pin and a pin-engaging element.
 3. The mounting mechanism of claim 2, wherein the mounting pin includes a tapered tip forming a head, a base of the head having a first diameter, the mounting pin further including a neck having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, such that the pin-engaging element is received in the neck in a locked position that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving section.
 4. The mounting mechanism of claim 3, wherein the pin-engaging element is spring-biased toward the locked position.
 5. The mounting mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a pushbutton that when depressed overcomes the spring-bias of the pin-engaging element to disengage the pin-engaging element from the mounting pin so that the mounting pin can be removed from the pin receiving section, thereby releasing the accessory from the small arm.
 6. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the small arms accessory is a bipod comprising a head section, a pivot section, and two extendable legs, the legs being mounted to allow pivotal movement of the pivot section relative to the head section, the pivot section moving from a use position to a carry position.
 7. The mounting mechanism of claim 6, wherein the mounting pin is fixed to the head section.
 8. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip element further comprises a handgrip with an interior cavity, the interior cavity including a lower end with a threaded opening, the grip element further including a threaded cap secured in the threaded opening to enclose the cavity.
 9. The mounting mechanism of claim 8, further comprising an elongate sling member having a first end secured within the cavity of the handgrip and a second end secured to the threaded cap.
 10. The mounting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the threaded cap is mountable on a butt stock of the small arm, the sling member thereby extending from the handgrip to the butt stock.
 11. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the grip element includes an attaching element that secures the grip element to an accessory attachment rail on the small arm.
 12. A mounting mechanism adapted to secure an accessory to a weapon, the mounting mechanism comprising: a grip element; a rail attachment mechanism to secure the grip element to a rail of the weapon; a pin-receiving section having an aperture to receive a mounting pin of the accessory; and a spring-biased pin-engaging element to selectively engage the mounting pin of the accessory.
 13. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the mounting pin includes a tapered tip forming a head, a base of the head having a first diameter, the mounting pin further including a neck having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, such that the pin-engaging element is received in the neck in a locked position that secures the mounting pin in the pin-receiving section.
 14. The mounting mechanism of claim 13, wherein the pin-engaging element is spring-biased toward the locked position.
 15. The mounting mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a pushbutton that when depressed overcomes the spring-bias of the pin-engaging element to disengage the pin-engaging element from the mounting pin so that the mounting pin can be removed from the pin receiving section, thereby releasing the accessory from the small arm.
 16. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the small arms accessory is a bipod comprising a head section, a pivot section, and two extendable legs, the legs being mounted to allow pivotal movement of the pivot section relative to the head section, the pivot section moving from a use position to a carry position.
 17. The mounting mechanism of claim 16, wherein the mounting pin is fixed to the head section.
 18. The mounting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the grip element further comprises an interior cavity, the interior cavity including a lower end with a threaded opening, the grip element further including a threaded cap secured in the threaded opening to enclose the cavity.
 19. The mounting mechanism of claim 18, further comprising an elongate sling member having a first end secured within the cavity of the handgrip and a second end secured to the threaded cap.
 20. The mounting mechanism of claim 19, wherein the threaded cap is mountable on a butt stock of the small arm, the sling member thereby extending from the handgrip to the butt stock. 